Day 8: Make it personal {Tools for memorizing}
TO MEMORIZE
Repeat 3-5 times, twice a day.
You will say in that day: “I will give thanks to you, O LORD, for though you were angry with me, your anger turned away, that you might comfort me.”
Isaiah 12:1 (ESV)
Say your verse looking only at 1st letters, twice a day.
Y w s i t d: “I w g t t y, O L, f t y w a w m, y a t a, t y m c m.”
Isaiah 12:1 (ESV)
TO DO
1. Write down why.
This might be one of the more important things to do. By Thursday of each week, you’ve already spent several days with a verse. The words have been soaking in, and now it’s time to look at what they’re doing in your heart.
Get a journal (or just write on a piece of notebook paper—that’s what I do). Write the verse number (and actually write out the verse, if you’d like) and the date. Then write a couple of sentences about what this verse means to you. Spend as little or as much time as you like.
- What is God showing you?
- How have the words come to life in your world?
- Why are you memorizing it anyway?
I do this directly underneath commentary notes from Tuesday so I have it all in one place. From my journal on Isaiah 12:1: “No more anger. Instead, a sign of relief. I breathe out words of worship.”
But even if you don’t write it down, spending a few minutes intentionally thinking and praying about what you’re learning will likely prove beneficial in your relationship with God.
2. Practice in Scripture Typer.
If you haven’t already tried Step 3 (Memorize It), do it today in Scripture Typer. You’re ready for it.
TODAY’S TIP
* Keep it together.
I keep all my Bible verses in one notebook. I keep the current chapter on a clipboard that I use daily, but the rest are filed by Bible order in my Bible notebook. (See how to make a Bible notebook here.) It’s easy to flip through the pages and review. I try to review one older chapter per week.
FINAL WORD OF ENCOURAGEMENT
Even if the words are slow to stick in your mind, remember that the larger purpose is for more awareness of God in your soul. Periodically reminding yourself why you’re memorizing is good practice to keep you motivated. Memorizing is just a means to an end, not the end itself. God is always the end goal.
LINKS
- How to make a Bible notebook
- 10 tips to boost your memory when scripture doesn’t stick
* * *
Why do you memorize scripture? Please share in the comments.
Remember that the larger purpose is for more awareness of God in your soul. ” Oh this is so good! Whenever a scripture speaks to me, when I “get it,” I just always feel much closer to God!
Thanks for sharing, Lisa.
I love when I “get it” too. It doesn’t always happen, and I can’t force it to happen, but I can thank God when it does. 🙂
These are wonderful ideas for Bible study and memorization. I have a journaling Bible (one page of scripture with a blank page to write on on the other side–this is where I write my thoughts and observations about each verse that I read. It’s great to read back over what I’ve written in years past!
What a treasure your Bible will be not only to yourself in years to come, but to your family too! Thanks for sharing about it, Anita. I didn’t know about journaling Bibles.